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Biomedical subjects

K L Täschner

Publications and source records attributed to K L Täschner.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1996

[Are there new methods in therapy of drug dependence?].

The therapy of drug addicts must not be confused with measures to reduce drug problems. Therapy means medical care for the treatment of a disease. In the treatment of drug addiction, we apply pharmacological and psychological therapy but also psychosocial techniques to address the problems of an addict. Actions might contain causal, symptomatic, or palliative therapies according to the measures currently available. The choice of a treatment procedure in the frame of the available alternatives is oriented on the objective findings, the chance for success, and the patient's intentions. The therapy of the drug addiction is divided into the stages of contact, detoxification, weaning, and aftercare. We aim for a patient's living without consuming drugs and the ability to critically and socially deal with the reality. The break with the pleasure/reluctance principle and switching to the performance principle is crucial. We have success rates ranging between 20 and 40% over five years in the currently available treatment-facility. The substitution therapy is also available as an additional choice for a smaller group of addicts where we do without an abstinence. Naturally, this is a substitution with methadone and may only be a measure for prolonging life. The application of heroine has currently no foundation as it has no advantages to the administration of methadone. Therefore, we should focus mainly on abstinence orientated procedures and to keep the methadone substitution ready for a small group resistant to therapy.

Combined Modality Therapy↗
PubMed1994

[Sequelae of cannabis use--results of a survey of experts on traffic accidents and "echopsychoses" (flash-back)].

There is a lack of knowledge in the judgement of the effects and the dangerousness of cannabis. Specially in the judgement of the delinquency of traffic the effects must be clarified. Cannabis plays often a fundamental role in road accidents. Obviously flash-backs of consumers of cannabis are observed more often than documented in the literature hitherto. The existing but not published experiences of experts have to be considered extensively to get an idea more complete of the diverse effects of cannabis in traffic offences.

Accidents, Traffic↗
PubMed1993

[Comments on the definition of so-called "new addictions"].

To apply the term "addiction" to non-substantial addiction-like behavior is both problematic and useful. It is problematic because the uncritical application of the term has led to an inflation of addictions. If everything is called addiction the term is losing its predicative power and is getting meaningless. In the field of non-substantial addicted behavior we have been given the chance to study the phenomenon addiction in "pure" form without disturbing influences of any substance. To apply the term "addiction" to non-substantial addicted behavior is possible in principle. Von Gebsattel 1954 and Giese 1962 have already referred to this. However, it requires well-defined criterias. A strictly composition of the term would be recommendable.

Behavior, Addictive↗
PubMed1993

[Criteria for culpability of substance dependent patients in various types of crime].

When judging whether a person is capable of committing a punishable offense in connection with effects of drugs we have to differentiate between an addict and an occasional consumer of drugs. In last case we can orientate ourselves only by the commonly visible signs of the drug-effect found with such persons. Contrary to this is drug-addiction an illness influencing the total mind of a person to act in a certain way. This leads to a typical behavioral pattern whereby the addict, whilst trying to procure his drug, mostly shows also limitations of his ability to act responsible in accordance with the law section 21 StGB. "Normal" punishable offences of drug-addicts are to be judged by the performance and the behaviour of the person.

Alcoholism↗
PubMed1991

[Driving capacity of drug addicts].

When deciding whether a person is fit to drive a vehicle whilst he is in a drug-induced delirious state of mind, we take into consideration the actual condition of the person at the time of driving a vehicle. As a rule, the mere presence of drugs in the urine or serum does not give a positive clue as to the ability to drive a vehicle. Here one has to take into consideration the effects of the respective drug consumed has at whole. In cases of chronic drug abuse or drug-dependence as well as dependence on methadone-substitutes we have two possibilities to judge by: Either we follow the guidelines of the report by the Federal Government on "Illness and Driving", in which case drug-dependence excludes driving on the whole or we orientate ourselves here again by the actual performance of the person at the time of driving, in which case many drug users would be declared fit and able to drive. However as far as the legal aspect of it goes, it would be contradictory to the law as regards to drinking and driving. Naturally the law wil decide in the end which of the two methods are legally applicable.

Automobile Driving↗
PubMed1991

[Codeine and dihydrocodeine as substitute and alternative drugs].

There has been an increasing tendency in West Germany since the beginning of the 60s to abuse codeine and dihydrocodeine-containing drugs as substitutes and alternative drugs. This paper will firstly look at this situation from an epidemiological point of view and summarize the chemical and pharmacological effects, the side effects and toxicology of both kinds of substances. On the basis of own case reports the importance of codeine and dihydrocodeine during the development of an addiction of polydrug addicts and opiate addicts has been revealed, analysed and discussed, also with a view to the legal aspects in connection with the issue of treatment by substitution of drug dependents.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Flashback following use of cannabis--a review].

The present study tries to find an answer to the question, whether the consumption of cannabis can cause flashbacks, and, if so, under what circumstances they occur. This is of interest for the treatment, prognosis and also from the legal viewpoint. The definition of a flashback is often unclear. Empirical investigations are often not sufficiently comparable, the supplementary data are very often missing, making the evaluation of the results difficult. Self-diagnosis by the consumer is usually unsuitable for estimating the frequency and phenomenology of flashbacks. Cannabis may trigger flashbacks after consuming hallucinogenes; the probability of the occurrence of a flashback seems to increase with the amount of hallucinogenes a person has consumed. A definite correlation between the amount of hashish consumed and the occurrence of flashback does not exist. Flashbacks have also been reported after consuming cannabis alone. However, data vary regarding the frequency of such flashbacks. According to the available data they occur rarely and require a thorough differential diagnostic evaluation in each individual case. As a rule, the occurrence of a flashback may take place in cases where there is an intake of hallucinogenic drugs in the recent case history.

Cannabinoids↗
PubMed1986

A controlled comparison of clonidine and doxepin in the treatment of the opiate withdrawal syndrome.

Clonidine and doxepin alleviate the symptoms of the opiate withdrawal syndrome. Clonidine was slightly more effective in controlling sweating, hot flushes, palpitations and nausea, and doxepin was slightly more effective in relieving the craving for opiates, lassitude and depression. Adverse effects such as sedation, dry mouth and falls in blood pressure occurred in both groups. There were six cases of collapse during treatment with high doses of doxepin, whereas only one subjective circulatory effect occurred in the clonidine group. At these high doses, doxepin may cause orthostatic hypotension via a peripheral alpha-receptor blockade. Clonidine reduced pulse rate whereas doxepin, with its anticholinergic action and indirectly via its alpha-receptor blocking action, raised it. Several patients in the doxepin group hat fits, as opposed to only one in the clonidine group. It is possible that the use of barbiturates had reduced the convulsive threshold in some of our patients. Overall, clonidine and doxepin were equipotent at adequate individual dose levels, and both were well tolerated. In this trial, serious side-effects occurred less often in the clonidine group.

Adolescent↗